It’s the summer of staycation, and we couldn’t be more lucky to have such wonderful amenities on our doorstep here in Dún Laoghaire Town.
After our pier and beach, one of our favourite parts of living in town is access to the best coffee scene in the greater Dublin area. We have enough quality coffee spots to grab a flat white from a new place every day of the week — and then some!
This month, we want to introduce you to our local spots. We got in touch with all the coffee experts in town to learn more about what makes them unique. Find their answers below. Who knows – you might march out the door ready to try something new!
SHOE LANE
Floor Level 1, Marine Road Unit 107
www.shoelanecoffee.com
Photo taken pre COVID 19
Shoe Lane threw open its doors in Dun Laoghaire in 2018 after two years of taking on corporate coffee in Dublin. If you’ve ever been into either location, you know it’s always hopping. But it’s still the perfect local. When we caught up with Jane and Johno, the owners, they told us:
“At Shoe Lane we place a great importance on really getting to know our customers, and many have become good friends over the years! We take the time to learn our customers’ names & orders and make them feel super welcome everyday.”
For Shoe Lane, a friendly greeting is perfectly paired with the perfect coffee. The barista team serves artisan single-origin coffees from a wide range of countries.
“All of our drinks are ‘specialty’, in that we serve single-origin specialty coffee drinks, and everything else on our menu from chai to matcha to hot chocolate, have all been sourced from the best suppliers possible. But a couple of our signature drinks would be our Yuzu Espresso Tonic, Pear & Pomegranate Cold Brew Iced Tea and our Soft-Serve Affogato with crushed amaretti!”
STRUDEL
105 Patrick St, Dún Laoghaire
https://strudelbakery.com/
Strudel Artisan Bakery on Patrick Street started out as “Ciara’s Bites.” The team behind one of our town’s favourite local bakery first began their journeys with the intention of supplying cafes and restaurants across Dublin.
After two years of working out a kitchen in Dublin City, the team found a space in Dún Laoghaire, and now, we get first pick of all their sweet and savoury treats every day of the week!
The start of the show here is, of course, the mighty strudel — and the bakers place an emphasis on traditional techniques. They love local Irish ingredients, but all the flour that becomes their signature product comes from Hungary.
Pop in and say hello, and don’t leave without a chocolate-pistachio croissant!
INK CAFE
dlr LexIcon, Queen’s Road
https://www.instagram.com/inkcafe.dl/
INK Cafe is one of the latest cafe additions to Dun Laoghaire. Situated in the dlr LexIcon Library, it’s the perfect spot before or after catching a performance, attending a talk, or even just a walk on the pier.
Let’s get down to the coffee. INK serves up Bell Lane Coffee, roasted over in Mullingar. A flat white or macchiato is always a good choice here, but INK baristas are also well versed in working with non-dairy milks, including oat and soya.
Why does the team love Dun Laoghaire?
“We totally love the people, the atmosphere and friendliness throughout the town is unique and of course the sea views and harbour are breath-taking.”
TWO BEANS
11 George’s Street Lower
www.twobeans.ie
Photo taken pre COVID 19
Two Beans has been a George’s Street staple since 2012. And with a motto like “life is too short for bad coffee,” you know you’re always in for a treat.
Two Beans is the only specialty coffee shop in South County Dublin serving direct traded, fully traceable, single origin coffee.
Every cup comes from seasonal, roasted coffees brought to life through their baristas’ own love of coffee and skill. The entire team’s superb coffee knowledge means you can get tasting notes on every cup. And their commitment to the best doesn’t stop at the beans: Two Beans only uses milk produced in Ireland and certified by the National Dairy Council.
Why does Two Beans love Dun Laoghaire?
“Having lived locally for the past 20 years, it is no surprise that our coffee venture that started 8 years ago was setup in the town we love dearly. The seaside, the villages, the people…“
We wholeheartedly agree!
ART OF COFFEE
Adelphi House, George’s Street Upper
www.theartofcoffee.ie
The Art of Coffee is a classic coffee and sandwich stop in Dun Laoghaire Town. It’s our very own outpost of the popular Dublin chain.
A trip to The Art of Coffee always comes with a fantastic cup of coffee, using especially highly-graded beans that are freshly roasted every week. When we caught up with Raslun, the owner, he told us that all the beans they roast are at least an 85% of the quality scale. Impressive!
One of the things we love about the Art of Coffee is that the team does everything – and they do it well. They have a small bakery in the Sharp building in Dublin that they use to supply their shops. Everything you find on the shelves is made from scratch, including the tray bakes, scones, and sausage rolls!
SUNSHINE CAFE
107 Lower George’s Street
https://www.facebook.com/The-Sunshine-Cafe-Restaurant-142188547217/
You know the Sunshine Cafe & Restaurant as a popular sport for Mediterranean food in our sometimes Med-like town, but have you stopped by for a coffee?
Husband and wife team Siobhán and Faycal serve up a fantastic cuppa using FiXX gourmet coffee, which is a blend of Cuban, Sumatran, and Ethiopian beans. The baristas’ speciality includes classic coffees for true coffee lovers. They serve up the good old favourites cappuccino, cortado, espresso, latte macchiato, and chai lattes.
Why do Siobhán and Faycal love Dun Laoghaire? When we put the question to them, the answer was all about the sea.
“We love Dun Laoghaire firstly because this is the home town of Siobhan coming from Sandycove, and secondly Faycal grew up on the Algerian coast where he loved to dive. The Dun Laoghaire sea[front] has won his heart as well as the really friendly and supportive customers.”
LE CHOCOLAT DE FRÉD
96 George Street Lower
https://www.facebook.com/lechocolatdefred/
Photo taken pre COVID 19
Le Chocolat de Fred’s motto is “French soul on Irish soil,” and it summarizes perfectly what makes the cafe Dun Laoghaire unique. Of course, the crepes, galettes, and waffles are all worth a trip on their own. But you can still get the Parisian ambiance to take away.
This is the spot in Dun Laoghaire to come for a mocha or a hot chocolate. All their coffee is made with Bell Lane, roasted in Mullingar, and the chocolate is unreal.
Why has Dun Laoghaire been so blessed with this chocolate heaven?When we caught up with the team, they told us:
“Dun Laoghaire has been the destination for our coffee shop for 3 main reasons: The diversity of audience, the particular atmosphere and the growing potential of the village attracting more and more populations.”
“Building relationships with so different communities is what makes Dun Laoghaire so special. From loyal customers who come every morning for a cup of coffee from St Michael hospital or the offices around, students in the afternoon who come for a hot chocolate or a milkshake and families who are looking for an indulgent chocolate treats party during the weekends, we really enjoy serving them and contributing to giving them joy every day.”
JJ DARBOVEN
64 Convent Road
https://shop.jjdarboven.ie
Photo taken pre COVID 19
J.J. Darboven’s shop and barista bar on George’s Street fits in as though it’s always been there. But one of Dun Laoghaire’s best loved coffee spots is only a recent development in the Mongey family’s journey in the world of coffee.
Whether you stop into the shop in Dun Laoghaire or you pop into another coffee shop around Ireland, there’s a good chance that you’ll encounter Graham Mongey’s hard work and long-term vision in every county.
Stop by to enjoy some of J.J. Darboven’s coffee roasted here in town. And don’t forget to bring home some of the new Eighty9 beans, which comes in eco-friendly and now award winning packaging!
Make sure you also check out the perfect coffee recipe they shared on our site last month.
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